Democrats say a group supporting Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) bought television ad time in Virginia that had been released by his campaign the same day, suggesting a possible connection between two groups that legally must remain separate.

The upcoming ads — "Finish the Job," featuring eight Iraq war veterans speaking in black-and-white footage about the success of the surge — mark the most substantial outside assistance McCain has received in the presidential air wars.

The group, Vets for Freedom, calls the purchase a coincidence, and there is no indication otherwise.

But the discovery is the leading edge of a new line of attack Democrats plan against McCain.

Because Obama has so much more ready cash than McCain, the Arizonan is in the ironic position of being dependent on — or, perhaps, at the mercy of — the sort of third-party, outside groups he has long criticized.

Democrats contend that McCain gained substantial political capital from opposing such groups when he was crusading for a campaign-finance overhaul, but he now stands to benefit from their largesse.

A Democratic media buyer says McCain bought time in all non-D.C. Virginia markets on July 2, then canceled those buys the next day. On that same day, Vets for Freedom picked up time in Norfolk, with the ads scheduled to run from July 9 to 15.

Pete Hegseth, chairman of Vets for Freedom, expressed surprise about the finding and said the coincidence was “certainly nothing intentional.”

“In no way has our buy in any way been collaborated with anyone,” Hegseth said. “All we did was decide where the buys are going, based on our timeline, and our buyers are doing it.”

McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said: "Vets For Freedom has not been coordinating with our campaign. Instead of making unsubstantiated accusations against veterans who have honorably served our country — [Democrats] should acknowledge the success of the McCain-backed surge strategy.”

The group is spending $1.5 million over two weeks to air the ad in Ohio, Virginia, Michigan, New Mexico and Pennsylvania – five of the most hotly contested swing states.

The ads are to be formally unveiled Wednesday at the National Press Club when the group announces its national “Four Months, For Victory” media and grass-roots campaign. More than a dozen Iraq war veterans are scheduled to attend.

Vets for Freedom was established in December 2005 by combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Two close McCain friends who often travel with his campaign — Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) — were members of the group’s honorary policy board of advisers.

The senators took a leave of absence in May after media inquiries, saying in a joint letter: “Due to McCain campaign guidelines, we must request a leave from our positions as Honorary Members of the Policy Board of Advisors for Vets for Freedom.”

The board was dissolved two days later. Vets for Freedom said in a news release that “third party speculation has led to a misunderstanding of the role the Board of Advisers play in the organization.”

“They never had a day-to-day or strategic role,” Hegseth said. “We hope that they’re coming back to our organization once this campaign stuff is over with.”